Coimbatore is an industrial town in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is called the Manchester of the East. It is known for its textile factories, engineering firms, health care sector, schools & colleges apart from its pleasant weather and friendly people. It is located on the banks of the river Noyyal. It is in the extreme west of Tamil Nadu near the state of Kerala. It serves as a transit point to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. The city is surrounded by mountains on the West and Reserve Forests on the North. Its original name is Koneyammanputhhur which means ‘birthplace of the Goddess’.
Best For:
Temples of miracle deities.
It serves as a base to visit many hill stations around it.
Coimbatore has a pleasant climate all around the year. The maximum summer temperature is 39°C while the minimum is 21°C. The summer lasts from April to June. The winters are from October to February. The range of temperature in winter is from 30°C to 15°C. Coimbatore receives rain in October and November. The best time to visit Coimbatore is from December to March. Cotton clothes for summers and light woolens for winters are recommended.
Almost all hotels in Coimbatore accept international credit cards. There are many ATMs in the city. There are money changers in the city to help you with foreign exchange.
No permits are required to travel to Coimbatore. Just a visa to India is all what is needed.
Coimbatore has an airport which is named Peelamedu airport. It is around 15 km from the central area of the city. There are regular flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Pune, and Sharjah. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Jetlite, Deccan, Paramount Airways and Go Air have regular flights to Coimbatore.
Coimbatore is connected internationally to Sharjah only. There are plans to link Sri Lanka also. The nearest international airport is Kochi which is at 190 km. There are flights to the Middle East and Sri Lanka from Kochi.
By Road: You can also take a private or state transport bus from any major town in Tamil Nadu and few cities in Kerala and Karnataka to reach Coimbatore.
Perur Temple which has some great carvings is a 500 year old temple.
Marudhamalai Temple is located on a hill top and is dedicated to Lord Subramanya. This temple is famous for miracles and fulfilling your wishes.
O C Park is a park with a mini zoo and a joy train.
The Agricultural University and the Forest College are the best institutions in their category.
Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is around 90 km from Coimbatore. It covers a vast area of 958 km. It has a great diversity in wild life and trees.
Siruvani waterfall and dam is located at a distance of 37 km from Coimbatore. From here you can see the beautiful view of the dam and the waterfall. The water is known for is taste and mineral content.
Where To Eat:
Like any place in South India, you can relish Idlis and Dosas here in Coimbatore. Rice is the base of almost all preparations. Also try some yummy Rassam and Sambhar. Food is served on a Banana leaf in many restaurants. Mysorepak, which is sweet dish made of lentil flour and ghee, is a specialty of Mysore and is available in South Indian restaurants and sweet shops.
Where To Stay:
There are many hotels in each category in Coimbatore. Good hotels in Coimbatore include Hotel Residency, Hotel Surya International, Hotel Park Inn, Hotel Nilgiri’s Nest and Shree Arvee Hotel. Low budget hotels include Hotel Tamil Nadu, Hotel Eskepi and Sugam Hotel.
Ooty, Kodaikanal and Conoor are the lovely hill stations around Coimbatore. They are at a distance of 98km, 138km and 131km respectively from Coimbatore.
